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From the Pastor’s Desk
The Season of Advent begins this Lord’s Day. And yet, from one perspective, the spirituality of Advent has been the focus of the Lectionary for Mass since early November. All the Sundays of this month have directed our attention to the “end times” and calling us to be ready for the Day of Judgment.
Advent, in the first place, calls us to “be prepared” for the Day of the Lord, that is, the Day of Judgment that will occur at the end of time. Saint Paul warns us that we will have to give an account of our lives on this day before God (see Romans 14:12). Cardinal Walter Kasper in a small book called Accepting the Mystery: Spiritual Reflections for Advent and Christmas (Paulist Press, 2015) writes: “…[T]he message of judgment is itself a message of grace.” He continues:
“Whoever does not take the word of judgment seriously and thinks it can simply be ignored also does not take grace seriously. Such a person turns grace into “cheap grace” and trivializes Christianity.”
Yes, there will be a judgment of our lives at the end of time. Advent declares that Christians must take this to heart and be prepared for it. Our lives cannot be so carefree that we take for granted God’s Mercy. As the Beatitudes remind us: “Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy” (Mt 5:7). If we are going to seek God’s mercy, then we must be merciful to others, too.
Love,
Fr. Tom